Needle threader



June 21, 1955 NEEDLE THREADER Filed May 4, 19 53 Abe *Gersfein- JNVENTOR.

"'6 i /m, l6 l4 AGERTElN- 2,711,272-

United States Patent NEEDLE THREADER Abe Gerstein, Passaic, N. J. Application May 4, 1953, Serial No. 352,691 2 Claims. (Cl. 223-99) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in needle threaders designed particularly for use with sewing machines, but also capable of use with hand needles.

An important object of the invention is to provide a needle threading implement which is held in the hand of a person and placed in position to receive a needle and to engage and pull the thread through the eye of the needle.

Another object is to provide a bore or recess in the implement to receive and align the eye of a needle with a slidable hook adapted to project through the eye and engage the thread which is pulled back through the eye as the hook is retracted.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for a which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on a line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view with the cover plate removed;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view showing the device in needle threading position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view showing the hook after being retracted to pull the thread through the eye of the needle and Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the hook and needle.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numerals 5 and 6 desigmate a pair of substantially rectangular shaped plates secured in confronting relation to each other by screws other suitable fasteners 7 to form a Hat hand gripping body.

The front end of the body is formed with a shoulder 8 beneath which is a reduced extension 9 having a vertical bore 10 therein having a tapered lower end 11 and forming a guide adapted to receive a sewing machine needle 12, or hand needle (not shown). The front edge of extension 9 is formed with a vertical slot 13 which leads to the bore or guide 10.

The opposing faces of the plates 5 and 6 are formed with a horizontal groove 14 leading rearwardly from bore or guide 10 and in which a slide 15 is slidably positioned.

A hook 16 projects forwardlyfrom the front end of slide 15 Slide 15 is also formed with an opening 17 which is exposed in longitudinally extending aligned slots 18 and 19 in plates 5 and 6. A spring steel strap 20 is bent at its intermediate portion to form a finger grip 21 which projects in a forwardly inclined position with respect to the end portions 22 and 23 of the strap. End portion 22 of the strap is inserted in opening 17 of the slide to position the end portions 22 and 23 at opposite sides of the slide and anchored in the groove 14 and with the finger grip 21 projecting outwardly through slot 19 of plate 6.

'In the operation of the device, the body which is composed of plates 5 and 6 is held in the hand of a person and placed in position to receive a needle 12 in guide or bore 10. Finger grip 21 is then pushed inwardly to slide hook 16 outwardly and through the eye of the needle where it engages a thread 24. Upon releasing finger grip 21 the spring strap 20 will retract the hook and pull the thread through the eye. The slot 13 enables the thread to remain in the eye as the implement is separated from the needle.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the inven tion to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, claims. I

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A needle threading implement comprising a body having a longitudinal passage therethrough opening into one end thereof and having a transverse needle guide passage intersecting said longitudinal passage adjacent said one end, a slide slidably disposed in said longitudinal passage and having a hook on one end thereof movable across said needle guide passage for extension and retraction through said one end of said body in response to movement of said slide, said hook being adapted to engage a thread on extension through said one end to draw the thread across the needle guide passage and through the eye of a needle therein upon retraction therethrough, said body having an opening remote from said one end, means for actuating said slide comprising a resilient strap anchored at one end portion thereof to said body and extending longitudinally along said body and projecting into saidlast mentioned opening, said strap including a finger grip disposed in said last mentioned opening remote from said one end portion and angled away from said slide, said slide having a slot therein, said finger grip including an inclined portion extending through said slot whereby pressure on the finger grip urges the same toward the slide to move the slide toward said one end and release of pressure from the finger grip moves the slide away from said one end.

2. The combination of claim 1, said resilient strap including a second end portion extending from said finger grip longitudinally along said slide on the opposite side or" said slide from'its one end portion and terminating and being secured to said body adjacent said one end portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,476,872 Jamo July 19, 1949 2,643,038 Kahn June 23, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 159,452 Great Britain Mar. 3, 1921 falling within the scope of the appended I 

